Pictured above: The Right Honourable Jack Straw and Headmaster Mr Davies 

Old Brentwood Jack Straw paid a visit to his former school today to talk to pupils about politics and his time at Brentwood School.  This was a rare opportunity for students to meet this senior British Labour politician, who is currently appointed Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain and the Secretary of State for Justice. 

Mr Straw was a boarder at the school in the 1950's and 1960's, leaving the school in 1964 and, before he spoke to pupils, he enjoyed a tour of his old school followed by a lunch with students studying Politics.

Mr Straw has been an MP for Blackburn for 30 years and is also the only Labour politician, apart from Gordon Brown, to have served in the Cabinet continuously since Labour's administration began in May 1997.  He has had more top jobs than any other politician including positions as the Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal and now as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain and the Secretary of State for Justice.

Mr Straw spoke to pupils of his time at the school and of his two jobs as MP for Blackburn and Lord Chancellor.  He commented that he was ‘delighted to be invited back to the school' and that it had been a ‘trip down memory lane' for him, visiting the boarding house that he lived in for 7 years.

Whilst at Brentwood School, Mr Straw showed an interest in politics at an early age and always knew what he wanted to go on to do.  He said to pupils; "I always felt challenged at Brentwood School and I am amazed at where I started out in life (on a council estate in Loughton) to where I am today.  How did an ordinary Essex boy like me become a member of parliament?  Well it is possible!  If you want to achieve things, you can, you should always set your sights high'. The session ended with challenging question's from the pupil audience.   

Mr Ian Davies, Headmaster of Brentwood School commented "We were delighted to welcome Jack Straw back to the school.  It was a privilege to have him here and an excellent opportunity for pupils to meet such a senior politician".